Sammy is a second seat trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths. In this blog, Sammy shares what a typical Wednesday looks like in the Thames Valley Privacy & Data team – from managing data protection requests to team updates and life in the Reading office.
Published: 27 January 2026
Author: Sammy Hacklett
Privacy & Data law is a fast-evolving area that sits at the heart of how organisations use technology, manage risk and protect information. As a trainee in the Privacy & Data team, no two days are ever the same - the work is varied, collaborative and often shaped by real-time developments.
This blog offers a snapshot of a typical day in the seat, giving an insight into the rhythm of trainee life, the people I work with, and the kinds of tasks I get involved in.
At Shoosmiths, there isn’t a set requirement for days in the office versus working from home. However, as trainees, we typically come into the office three to four days a week, as working alongside others offers valuable learning opportunities. Wednesday is our team day, when the wider Privacy & Data team is in the office together, making it a particularly busy and productive day.
I arrive at my desk around 8:30am, log on and check for any urgent emails. If nothing requires immediate action, a couple of us go to the kitchen together to grab a coffee, a breakfast bar, and chat through what we have going on that day.
Part of my role involves managing a client’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) inbox. Shoosmiths provides an external DPO service, so I work closely with the client’s internal legal team on DPO matters. I spend between 10 minutes and an hour monitoring the inbox, depending on what has come in. Requests that come into the inbox include third parties, such as the police or the client’s customers, asking for CCTV footage from the client’s sites. We also receive Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs), which are requests from customers or employees for all data the client holds on them. I review all requests and take appropriate action. Every few days, I have a call with the Partner who oversees the DPO inbox to provide updates, seek guidance and discuss any requests that need input.
Between 9:30 and 10:15, we have our weekly Privacy & Data update meeting. During this meeting, the Professional Support Lawyer (PSL) shares key data protection updates from the past week. On Mondays, trainees help research recent data protection news and prepare a summary with useful links. Updates often include changes to legislation, fines issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and other stories about data protection issues. During the meeting, we discuss these updates, share thoughts and ask questions.
Trainee tasks vary day to day, but recently I have worked on several due diligence reports. These can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day, so I often work on them after the update meeting. Due diligence reporting in Privacy & Data generally involves reviewing the target company’s website and any data protection documents they provide to check compliance with data protection laws. I then draft a report and discuss it with the supervising Partner. Once we make any amendments, I send the work to the Corporate team.
Around 1pm, I usually head to lunch with other trainees and junior colleagues. We tend to sit together in the office kitchen, which has become a real hub during the day. It’s a chance to step away from our desks, catch up on how everyone’s seats are going, and chat about everything from current matters to plans outside of work. The atmosphere is very sociable and supportive, and those informal conversations are a great way to build relationships across teams while taking a proper break before the afternoon gets going.
At 2pm, I return to my desk to continue working on matters from the morning. If I am working on a matter with the Partner, we often discuss it during the afternoon, and it gives me a chance to ask any queries I have about my task list.
Around 3:30pm, I usually take a quick coffee break with other trainees in the office. We head to the kitchen to grab a coffee and a few sweets from the pick n mix bar, which is always a welcome energy boost in the afternoon. I often bring some back for the rest of the team too, which is always appreciated.
By around 5:30pm, I’m catching up on internal emails, including general office communications, trainee event arrangements (such as the Pro Bono project we’re currently working on), and updates from the wider commercial group. I’ll also action anything that’s come in during the afternoon, which often includes due diligence queries from other teams or ad hoc tasks from the PSL.
On a typical day, I log off and leave the office at around 6:30pm. Taking time to wrap up the day properly helps me feel organised and ready for whatever the next day brings.
No two days are the same, and that’s what makes the role so engaging. The combination of responsibility, support and collaboration means you’re constantly learning and developing, while feeling part of a wider team. If you enjoy variety, working with others, and being trusted to get involved from an early stage, a trainee role at Shoosmiths offers a brilliant environment to grow and build your legal career.
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